The Truth Is More Important Than The Facts

When we use our common sense, and oppose a plan that will hurt millions of people, the mass media, the politicians, the late-nite comedians, and the snide bastards on the Fox News Channel, call us "radicals."

They called us radicals when we opposed the pharmaceutical companies, who in the name of greater profits sought to deny the poor people in South Africa access to affordable AIDS medications. We said, as the Zaptistas say, "°Ya Basta!", "Enough already!" And the pharmaceutical companies backed down.

Now they call us "radicals" again, because we oppose the FTAA and corporate globalization.

But is it radical to say that people need access to jobs?

Is it radical to say that people should get a good day's pay for a hard day's work?

Is it radical to say that all people deserve to eat, live and work in conditions of peace, freedom and justice?

If so, Fox News, then I am proud to be a radical.

After looking at the FTAA's predecessor NAFTA, it only makes sense to oppose it. NAFTA was a failure, and it has destroyed the lives of millions. More people live in poverty today thanks to NAFTA. More people are landless and homeless thanks to NAFTA. More people have died trying to cross the border into the US thanks to NAFTA. More people are working in sweatshops, are uninsured, and are unemployed, thanks to NAFTA.

So when our government say, "let's expand NAFTA to even more nations and people," we say, as the Zaptistas say, "°Ya Basta!", "Enough already!"

Now, who's views are more extreme, ours, or the supporters of corporate globalization?

We say that all people should have enough to eat. They say that corporations should control the world's food supply.

We say that people are entitled to health and security. They say that corporations should have the right to poison our air and water, and steal our livelihoods at will.

We say that people have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They say that you only have the right to work, consume and obey.

We say that democracy should be democratic. They say that corporations should be allowed to re-write every constitution in the Western Hemisphere without a vote.

Now, we say, as the Zaptistas say, "°Ya Basta!", "Enough already!"

But these global gangsters are now afraid. How else can you explain their reactions to our movement? They got riot cops in Seattle to spray tear gas on young, seated protesters who were chanting "we are non-violent." They mass arrested hundreds of marchers at the IMF/World Bank protests in Washington DC for speaking their minds. And at the Democratic convention, they turned Los Angeles into a warzone, and shot people with rubber bullets for listening to a concert by a popular rock/rap band. And as we speak, they are trying to silence brave voices of freedom in Quebec.

There is fear in their eyes. We can beat them, and we will beat them. In the words of Cesar Chavez, "you cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore," and we are not afraid anymore. Corporations were created by man. And if we built them up, we can tear the sons of bitches down.

We say, as the Zaptistas say, "°Ya Basta!", "Enough already!"